Our Work in Africa

Overview

Since establishing The Rockefeller Foundation’s Africa Regional Office in 1966, we’ve formed strong ties with African governments, academic institutions, and pan-African entities. The office continues to catalyze investments to support Africa as a leader in the fight against climate change.

Africa’s low emissions are not due to a decision to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but rather to underinvestment in power generation and infrastructure. This has led to a severe lack of access to reliable electricity on the continent.

If Africa continues to develop as other nations have, we will never achieve net zero emissions. The traditional development path relies heavily on fossil fuels. Africa needs a different approach to sustainable and low-carbon development.

Why it Matters

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of global climate financing goes to Africa, accounting for only 12 percent of the total investment
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Africans still lived entirely in the dark in 2023, representing more than 80 percent of the global population without electricity
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of Africa's energy needs could come from renewable sources by 2040 with proper planning and funding, due to its abundant natural resources

Current Actions

Our Strategy

1Power: We work to bring renewable energy to sub-Saharan Africa, where 55 percent of the population has no access to electricity. We also seek to expand Africa’s role in the voluntary carbon market space, turning to Africa’s abundant natural resources.
2Food: We believe school meals are the most reliable social safety net, and are supporting nutritious meals, often sourced from local produce grown through regenerative methods.
3Health: We aim to strengthen community health systems with data-driven decisions. By leveraging health data, advocating for investment in climate-health initiatives, and supporting effective adaptation plans, we build capacity for climate-resilient health systems. We also foster collaboration across health, environment, and finance sectors to achieve health equity for all.